Hard-Earned Provision
The other night, as my wife was praying for us, she said something odd.
"Lord, we thank You for Your provision... And that You've gifted us with the ability and drive to work hard. We're grateful for this 'hard-earned provision.'"
The phrase struck me... First in its' peculiarity and then in its' beauty.
God provides? Yes.
We work hard? Yes.
I've heard Mark Batterson, a pastor in Washington DC, say, "Pray like it depends on God and work like it depends on you."
My wife's prayer reminded me that God doesn't just provide through gift and charity, but also through our hard work and faithfulness over the long-haul.
Maybe God's provision in your life looks like the same 8a–6p job you've had for a decade. We show up, we work hard, we bring home a paycheck. And then the temptation is to forget where the opportunity and ability came from in the first place. Our participation in God's provision doesn't make it any less God's provision.
Maybe you're in need of a miracle... Pray for it.
But don't forget that maybe, just maybe, the ingredients of the miracle are laying all around you waiting to be assembled.